Music to me is probably
like algebra to a number
of you guys. So instead
of talking to you about
the latest musical issues,
I’m going to have a chat
to you about some things
that have hit the Otago
community hard.

Dear Reader, Let’s start with logistics.
As of the 27th no motorcycles or
scooters are allowed to park near
doorways or entrances at the Otago
Polytechnic, as it’s considered a fire/
health and safety hazard.

As of Thursday 15th
March the Otago Rugby
Football Union (ORFU)
has been granted the
ability to stay alive and
operational for at least
2012. If you didn’t know
the ORFU was in so much
debt that they were facing
liquidation.
However, the DCC has
bailed the ORFU out by
writing off the $480,000
debt owed to them, which
essentially means we will
have a team for at least
this year’s ITM cup. I am
interested to know what
student’s opinions are of
this bail out, so please
feel free to email me on
president@opsa.org.nz
with your opinion.
Have a good couple of
weeks.
Rebecca Hohaia
OPSA President 2012

Lucky for us, though, the OP will
“continue to look for opportunities to
improve parking for motorcyclists...
aware that motorcycling is a more
sustainable form of transport than cars.”
Nice. Also good to see such discussions
re ‘sustainability’ aren’t just rhetoric
with the OP helping to institute Jayride.
com - an online ridesharing website.
Better for the environment and cheaper
for students, so like, let’s get the ball
rolling on that. You can share your ride at
www.jayride.co.nz/OtagoPolytechnic.
Finally, MUSIC. To quote the
world’s most amoral philosopher
(i.e. Nietzsche), “Without music, life
would be an error” The effect of music
on our brain chemistry is profound.
It consoles us, rouses us, makes us
mad, makes us horny and amplifies
just about any experience – you
can’t beat it. In this issue we have an
interview with Katchafire, one of New
Zealand’s pre-eminent bands, a mixtape by Timmy Cooper from Dunedin
band The Doyleys and an analysis of
Dunedin music. PLUS Gyro’s gig this
Thursday (29 March) at Refuel - $3
with your Polytechnic ID card. Yeeah
experiencing all Dunedin has to offer!!
To the dayz.
Sincerely, Kari

NEWS

IT’S ALL HEAR
Margot Taylor

The privilege that comes with
being an MP is having a voice
on the national stage. But
what if you lack the ability to
hear the voices of the peers
with whom you share this
arena? New Green MP Mojo
Mathers, who is profoundly
deaf, has spent weeks facing
this dilemma, the Speaker of
the House originally ruling
that she would have to pay for
her own note-taking system.
Subsequently it has been
decided this system, expected
to cost up to $30,000, will no
longer come out of her $80,000
office support fund. Thus, her
rights as an MP will no longer be
compromised as the Green and
Labour parties, as well as the
New Zealand Deaf Association,
worried they could be.
Sign Language is recognised
as New Zealand’s third language
and, according to Kitty Keogh
(Otago Polytechnic’s Disability

Support Coordinator), the OP
aims to account for its hearing
impaired students who can
expect to access facilities such as
signers, note takers and one on
one classes to make sure they can
reach their full potential in an
accepting environment. Keogh
stressed the importance of
breaking down misconceptions
surrounding hearing impaired
people, for example, the idea
that because they can’t hear,
they won’t be able to learn.
Keogh explained that hearingimpaired students are often
“very well read and intelligent”.
Not only is it crucial to provide
all students with facilities
to create successful learning
environments but as a student
body we must educate ourselves
that, although not being able
to hear makes life different,
hearing impaired people have
the same communicative needs
as anybody else.
The Disability and Learning

Support Centre in H block also
welcomes any student who feels
that something in their life is
preventing them from learning
to the best of their ability.
The week of the 25th- 31st
of March is National Hearing
Week. The theme of this years
hearing week is The Face
of Hearing Impairment. In
reality there is no one “face”;
hearing loss can affect children
from birth, ones hearing can
diminish over time or an
accident can cause it to be lost
instantly. So when you turn up
your favourite song and dance
wildly, hear the voice of a loved
one or fall asleep listening to
the rain on the roof, don’t take
it for granted! Support Hearing
Week and the battle won by
Mojo Mathers. Learn how to
sign your name and donate the
money you would’ve spent on
your morning coffee, because
700,000 is a number too big to
ignore.

gyro 3

NEWS

“

[student
loans] will be
“[reined in] in
a big way]”

STUDENT LOANS… INTEREST-ED?
Earlier this month National
reaffirmed the interestfree student loan scheme,
individuals such as Pete
Hodkinson, the President
of the New Zealand Unions
of Student Associations,
applauding the decision.
However, John Key has also
stated that the scheme will be
“[reined in] in a big way]” in
future years.
Despite National relating
this primarily to the repayment
of overseas student debt (for
example a Bill reducing the
repayment holiday period
to one year looks set to be
implemented in the near
future), concerns abound as
to how this statement and its
underlying intentions will
practically affect students.
The Green Party are worried
this will translate to “bad news
for students… [with] moves to
restrict access to student loans
and allowances [preventing]

gyro 4

potential students from upskilling and retraining, when
[that] is exactly what we need
them to do in these recessionary
times.” Examples of this
suggested transition has come
in recent years via “restricting
access to Training Incentive
Allowance, and stopping
Permanent Residents from
accessing Studylink.” Grant
Robertson, Labour’s Tertiary
Education
Spokesperson,
also refers to the “restrictions
[implemented] around age…
completion of courses… [and]
the length of time that you
can do your courses.” Labour’s
concern is that such restrictions
may start to become courserelated, Robertson stating that
“The next step would seem to
be, well okay there are some
courses we are not going to
fund. That’s a very dangerous
road to go down.”
Steven Joyce, the Minister
for Tertiary Education, states
that the Government are “not

necessarily” considering such
a link, but that National does
“[want] to give an indication
to people when they make
their decision on their tertiary
education that they understand
what they’re likely to earn
coming out the other end,
based on what people who
get that degree or diploma are
actually doing.”
But in terms of Key’s
statement, some parties just
want
more
information.
Robertson states, “John Key
has told a business audience
that National would “rein in
the student loan scheme big
time”. He needs to explain
to students exactly what that
means. Student loans are the
only way of financing study
for many New Zealanders
and it is irresponsible for the
Prime Minister to make big
statements off the cuff like
this. He now needs to explain
to students what changes are
being planned.”

Scattered Brains of the Lovely Union

FEATURE

Playing Gyro’s gig 29th March

Dunedin Music
Basil Brush
Dunedin has a famous history
as a thriving and productive
music city, and while this is
maintained in the current
scene, there is friction within
this conception of our city.
Dunedin’s’ musical history
has a positive and inspired
affect on local culture and the
way we’re portrayed by the
media.
But some lesser known,
perhaps negative, implications
have also stemmed from
our well documented and
influential past, particularly
when combined with the
Contemporary Music course
offered at the Otago University.
The effects of our historical
popularity are that musicians
are unaware of or deliberately
rejecting the status quo of
“Dunedin Music” (TFF, Six60
etc) or they are strangely aware
of the comparisons being made
between themselves and the
Flying Nun label – and they
react to it, deliberately or not.
Flying Nun was created
in 1981, with the likes of The
Clean, The Verlaines, and The
3D’s on the label, as well as
many others. There is a huge
amount of respect for Flying
Nun and the bands associated
with it but Dunedin musicians

share a desire to have their
music stand on its own, without
preconceived ideas about ‘The
Dunedin Sound’ being forced
onto them (Alizarin Lizard
being one such example, see
http://canta.co.nz/features/thelizard-rodeo/). Other groups
cannot help but manipulate
their output due to this
preconceived notion of ‘The
Dunedin Sound’.
The Bachelor of Music at
the University is also making
more than its’ fair share of
impact on the scene. It is a great
course which turns out many
brilliant musicians, but one of
its issues is that it teaches gifted
musicians that no matter how
strong their musical instincts
and skills are, they are nothing
without a strong grounding
in theoretical and analytical
knowledge. This clearly is not
the truth in our post-modern
musical world.
Dunedin music has been
undergoing significant changes
since the beginning of this
decade. The ‘90s kids are now
moving into their 20’s and
challenging older generations
with new ideas about music and
the industry, accepting much of
the decline of pop in the early
2000’s as completely natural,
and working within this format.

The Chicks Project has
been developed by Volunteer
Otago and the Dunedin Fringe
Arts Trust to mentor young
musicians and has been truly
successful. Two new and much
needed venues have been
created; The Attic, a collective
of musicians and artists that
have been putting on shows in
a studio space at 140 George St,
and The National, located at 1
Queens Gardens, which has just
opened with packed out gigs.
Stalwarts such as Refuel
and Sammy’s have just been
refurbished, and are continuing
to provide quality venues
for local and international
musicians to perform in. There
are thriving art gallery shows,
small venue gigs, a growing list
of international acts coming
to the city, and more quality
venues and exciting bands
than this city has seen in over a
decade.
The history of Dunedin
music is something we can and
perhaps even should readily
appreciate. But regardless of
our past and other influences
(again, such as the Otago
University Music course) this
is an exciting time for Dunedin
music to carve out its own
future, which is looking bright
indeed.

gyro 5

Every few weeks we’ll include a piece by a Head of School from the Otago Polytechnic, where
they will essentially write a letter to their past selves – the student version of themselves, so
to speak. This week starts with Lesley Smith, the Head of School for the IT Department.

DEAR STUDENT VERSION OF ME
Dear Lesley,

are developing your ongoing
personal support network.

I hear you have decided to
take the bold step of returning
to study. It has been a few
years since you were in formal
learning so this must have been
a tough decision.
As a mature student
remember that you have a lot
to offer to your fellow students.
Be confident in sharing your
ideas and value your own
learning
and
experience.
Remain open to learning from
others and enjoy the different
understandings that you will
notice in the younger students.
Computing is an exciting
study path but not an easy one.
Programming in particular
draws on skills that you might
not have used before – though
if you have a background in
music (or mathematics) you are
likely to appreciate the patterns
and logic of the code. There is
a huge body of IT knowledge
which is continuously evolving
so you will be committed to
lifelong learning in the field.
The approach in the BIT
is all about applied, hands on
learning. You’ll be given real
problems to solve, supported
by examples from the IT

gyro 6

Remember
that
your
lecturers want to see you
succeed, even if it doesn’t feel
that way when they give you
huge assignments and the
deadline is looming. Working
all night then missing the 8am
lectures is a recipe for failure
–I’ve seen this too many times.
There is a huge amount of
support available for you, just
ask!
business world. There will be
opportunities for developing
your skills on client work
outside the study schedules.
Take on every chance you
can to build your experience.
Participate in blogs and
online communities in ways
that demonstrate both your
computing and people skills.
Ask for help from the online
community and offer help to
others where you can.
Don’t forget to spend time
with your classmates – your
offline world. You will make
friends for life as you spend
the next three years within the
confines of D Block. Value the
time you have together, you

By the time you graduate
you’ll have met many of the
local IT industry employers
through networking events,
class projects and internships.
You will have worked on a final
year project with a real client
and you will have done formal
presentations until you could
do them in your sleep (though
we prefer if you are awake
for the actual presentations).
You’ll have a professional CV,
great electronic portfolio of
work and will be ready to work
on day one of your new job.
Finally, make the most of a
very exciting time of your life.

Find us on Facebook and Twitter
Find out the latest news, events and student deals here
www.facebook.com/otagopoly
www.twitter.com/otagopolytech

gyro 7

Dunedin City Council

2012/13 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 2021/22

Draft Long Term Plan
Have your say
This is your chance to see the Councilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s plans for the next
ten years and to discuss your priorities for Dunedin.
For more information
477 4000

www.dunedin.govt.nz/draft-long-term-plan

gyro 8

INTERVIEW

KATCHAFIRE
So we caught up with Logan Bell from Katchafire
at the University of Technology’s Orientation in
Auckland. If you haven’t heard of them, GET ON IT.
Although I found them a bit staid as a live act, you
can’t deny the joy and positive energy their music elicits.
Also, a fab Orientation organised by Unitech’s Student
Association. Bangin’ in fact!
GYRO: What are you guys
up to at the moment?
Logan: Feasting! This is our
only show we’ve had in the
last two weeks before we go
to America, then taking off to
America for about five weeks.
G: Why did you decide to
do this Orientation?
Logan: They wanted us and
we always love doing the
Orientation gigs, they’re always
a fun thing on the calendar.
Real nice energy, students
come out in force. Anytime we
can be a part of that energy, all
over New Zealand, we’re in.
G: Have you been to an
Orientation in Otago?
Logan: Love Otago! It’s one
of my favourites. It’s been
too long. We haven’t played
Dunedin in so long. Tell the
student body to give us a ring!
G: How does it feel to be
New Zealand icons?
New Zealand icons aye? Just

living the dream I guess, just
living the dream. It’s cool. Bit
taken aback by being referred
to like that. But we’ll take it.
G: Do you consider this a job?
Logan: Yep. All the boys are
pretty much professional
musos. This is what brings
in the income for everyone.
We’re still slogging it
[touring] around 40 weeks.
G: How do you stay motivated
when you’re touring so much?
Think about the job you had
before this. You do have to
do that every now and then,
realise ‘fuck I do love my job,
this is the job of all jobs, get
into it, you know.’ It can get
monotonous but when you
think about what I was doing
before this… brick laying.
This is a great job. Getting
in front of the crowd can
snap you out of that too.
G: Are you all still
into Bob Marley?
Logan: How could you not

be? He still gets a lot of
play in the van on tour.
G: One reviewer has stated about
Katchafire that, “Although as a
Maori band, they could easily
deliver socially relevant, racially
tinged messages, they prefer
to provide escapist, universal
messages of joy and love.” Do
you agree with this assessment?
Logan: It is an accurate
account – we’re about love.
G: So what does the future hold?
Logan: Straight after USA we’re
starting a new album; we have
a goal to get a new album out
by the end of this year, which is
pretty quick for us historically.
Looking at a worldwide deal
with a big label, which is
motivating that and other than
we’re touring Brazil in May
and back to the States in July,
possibly a few gigs in Europe
and then in New Zealand,
Australia… business as usual.
Image: Renee Stamatis

STEREOTYPES
Richard Girvan
Stereotypes are an interesting
thing. They enable us to
identify the groups we and
others belong to, give us
a sense of belonging, and
allow us to refer succinctly to
otherwise complex structures
of human society.
They are also, however, a bad
thing: they oversimplify things,
don’t account for differences
and idiosyncrasies, and are
often used to mock and belittle
vulnerable peoples. They can
also often make it difficult for
people to feel they fit in when
they don’t quite match up.
Many gay men, for example,
find themselves not wanting to
come out because they don’t
fit into the ‘camp’ stereotype
and don’t want their sexuality
to become their sole attribute.
But in a way, it sort of does; for

a short time, at least.

suggest professionalism).

When I came out being
gay became everything about
me, everything on my mind,
everything I talked about—to
the point that I was sure my
friends were sick to death of
it. But that passed, the novelty
wore off. Nowadays, I feel
more in tune with camp gays
than anyone else, but not in all
things—it’s very hard to lump
me into a stereotype, every
though a lot of them fit.

There’s not a lot we can
do about this — society is
hardwired this way by necessity
— other than figure out what
works best, albeit imperfectly,
for us.

Unfortunately, it’s how
many others treat us, and part
of being in society is fitting in
with a particular group. Society
is complex, and we have to get
a large amount of data about
ourselves across to others in a
very short amount of time. So
we pick symbolic proxies (such
as wearing a business suit to

However, you’ll find that no
matter who you hang out with,
be it gays or straights, after the
initial novelty everyone will go
back to thinking about it the
same way they think about lefthandedness or red hair.
So pick and choose. Society
is a rich tapestry of stereotypes
and idioms. Play with them,
see what fits. Eventually you’ll
figure out what works best for
you, and you’ll find stereotypes
aren’t as rigid as you think they
are.